人生像鐘擺

2008年時，不丹被評選為是世界上最快樂的國家，之所以快樂不是來自於外在物質的慾望滿足，而是來自於信仰與觀念的知足。然而，近年來，居民卻對於未來感到不安，隨著全球化的影響，「不丹的有機市場受到鄰國印度的現代化農業量產所威脅，娛樂受到網路與手機所影響，西化的人才則學會行商而不一定會弘揚佛法[1]」。

這讓我想到這些年來人們逐漸提倡的「慢活」、「慢食」、「反全球化」等運動，鑒於「全球化」帶來的諸多負面影響，人們逐漸想要回到傳統，隱然口呼「回歸自然」的人─無論其是否真心願意回歸─似乎總是比較高尚的。

在人類歷史發展中，朦朧地有著一規律存在，人們似乎始終在兩個極端間擺盪，嫌棄過往的鄙陋，思索改進，追求快速有效率的現代自由社會，然而當弊端出現時，再思索改進，開始出現復古的聲浪。叔本華曾說：「人生像鐘擺，擺盪在滿足和厭倦之間。」這句話也許過於悲觀，但又令我不得不佩服他的洞見。

如果說，沒有被所謂國際化的不丹人們是快樂的，那麼，我們又何必汲汲營營彼此競爭掠奪？當年不丹被評選為世界最快樂的國家，這則消息會受到人們重視的原因，不外乎是現代人已經對追求世俗所謂的「卓越」感到疲乏與空虛，想要找回真正的自己，開始憶起過往的美好，便逐漸走向復古。

抱怨是最容易也最沒有意義的事，與其坐而言不如起而行，不論是想要充滿希望的未來、快樂地活在當下，或者回到記憶中的good old days，只有付諸行動才可能改變現狀。

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[1] 商業週刊〈世界上最快樂的國家不再？末日旅程第六站--不丹〉http://www.businessweekly.com.tw/blog/article.php?id=1680&p=1

Secret Beach

到達旅社約晚上十點，等室友安頓好房間盥洗後已近午夜，
但畢竟機會難得，光害很少，決定漫步到戶外看星星(星星愈看愈多XD)

恰好碰上導遊，他的一群朋友在河邊休憩，於是便一起同行，過了馬路便是一片森林，彼此認識或不認識的人們圍著營火，烤著棉花糖，夾著巧克力和餅乾，營火旁有條河，夜很暗，水有些冰涼，有些人脫下衣服便到河中嬉戲，我們則仰望著美麗的星空，雖然無法辨別任何星座，但能領略到它的美。

一位女生向我們稍微解說這裡的環境，沒有光害天上的星星很多，通常有機會看到流星...
說時遲那時快，一道流星劃過天際，"shooting star!!! I saw it!"我們又叫又跳地，像孩子一樣興奮極了，坐在河邊，仰著頭，滿心歡喜等著下一次的邂逅，到我們離去前，估計有七顆流星，載著許多未完成地許下的心願，留下一刻刻永恆的剎那。

離去前導遊問了我們幾個問題，首先是名字，原來stella是一種啤酒的名稱(我的原意明明是想用星星>"<) 之後是年齡，他們對於中國傳統出生就算一歲感到好奇(懷胎九個月，剩下三個月到哪兒去了，其實我也不知道XD)

雖然大家彼此不甚熟稔，但還是希望未來能meet you somewhere in the world.
真是個好不可思議的夜晚，好多的第一次都在這兒實現。

早上醒來仍禁不住心中那陣陣悸動，過了馬路遠望著昨晚的secret beach，是那麼真實卻又遙遠，真像是場夢一樣。

[ED190]社區實習 St. Martin Elementary School

想著今天的課程，昨天一整晚沒睡好，早上迅速買了Peet's Coffe 的麵包當早餐，搭上1R大約八點十分到了學校，比預定時間早了一小時，多了一小時可以準備教具，討論課程進行。

自我介紹後是歌曲教唱，接下來就輪到我的課程了，首先是中國新年的由來，一邊講故事組員們一邊演戲，果然有小朋友提問：為什麼年獸怕紅色？

其實這個問題我也很想知道，本來設計是要讓他們分組，運用想像或象徵彼此討論，然後分享，不過時間關係，加上在昨天討論的時候有組員認為這樣一個問題沒有達到課綱設計中所謂實現課程目標的環節(大概教育系課程術語吧)，為激發創意而提問並沒有準確連結到課程(雖然我自己是覺得有關聯啦XD)
總之就視情況而定，有多餘時間的話再作討論。

我們就在眾多吵雜聲中，默默把這個費解的問題忽略掉了= ="
還有其他像是春聯、放鞭炮、恭喜和拱手的涵意(右手握拳，左手包住右掌，意為概拳止武，化干戈為祥和)
好像對小學一年級到三年級的學童來說有點困難啦>"


之後是剪紙活動，剪「春」字，一步步教學，當中並提到了春可分成三部分：「三」為「多數」；「人」；「日」即太陽，當很多人看到太陽，
就代表嚴冬已過春天來臨(對學生來說，這好像也是一個比較困難的部分...)
不過幸好大家剪紙剪得很開心，也很喜歡問問題，問我們什麼時候會再來上課，
雖然教得不是很好，但聽到這樣的回應還是多少有點成就感了。

預定一小時的課程結果花了近三小時，不過老師似乎不甚介意XD
希望下禮拜也能這樣開開心心，進行我們最後一次在St. Martin的教學。

Life is Beautiful (美麗人生)

    This is a truly adult fairly tale; triumphant, poignant, timeless and one which will linger ling in the minds of those who see it. Though this is my second time to see this movie, the plots in it still bring me into tears.

    At first, it seems that this is a comedy when Guido, the main character in the movie, concocts an imaginative and humorous explanation for the happenings around. He isn’t handsome or rich while others are dressed in nice suits and live a luxurious life. Because of his positive attitude toward life, he wins Dora’s heart and bonds tightly with Joshua, he and Dora’s son. Even though Mussolini has just signed a pact with Hitler to implement his Nazi policies with regards to Jews, they own a bookstore and live happily.

    However, one day, the Germans come to take away Guido and his son. Dora, not being Jewish, determines on going along with her family. From then on, the once peaceful family has met the most depressing time during World War ∥.

    Those who believe in Nazism, regard Jews as slaves, and even more, working machines. They demand Jews work in adverse conditions, work over them until they are too weak to work and then, send them the “showers”. As for those who are too old or too young, they are forced to go to the “showers” on the day they arrive. When Guido’s uncle is taking off his clothes, one of the harsh commanders accidentally falls down. The kink-hearted old man sincerely gives a hand to her. Nevertheless, the proud woman glares at him furiously as if he were the most disgusting “thing” in the world. Not aware of the cruel fact, all he thinks of is to help others.

    Dr. Lessing, whom Guido used to pot his wits against in games of riddles, encounters Guido in the concentration camp. Both of them are glad to meet each other. For Guido, this is a good chance to save Dora from the camp while for Dr. Lessing, Guido is the only person who may be clever enough to figure out the riddle. When Guido tries to signal the rescue message to him, all he really cares about is the solution to the riddle. In his mind, Jewish life doesn’t mean anything , even though a ridiculous riddle.

    The life in concentration camps is horrible, ruthless and tiring. In order to keep Joshua safe from harm, Guido keeps a cheery face for Joshua although he is weak and dreadfully tired after working every day. It is because of his love for Joshua that the façade of the game never drops. On the other hand, he keeps finding any opportunity to contact Dora. The one that he gives the priority to is his family. After checking Joshua is safe, he begins to find Dora, ignoring his own safety. At last, on his way to be shot, he takes the last look at the place where Joshua hides and acts exaggeratedly so that Joshua can live.

    It is due of Guido’s sacrifice that Dora and Joshua are still alive and this is the main reason why the life in the movie is beautiful.It is the dangerous notion of blue-eyed, blond Aryan supremacy that causes the irretrievable Holocaust. For those who survive from the holocaust, in some way, living is bitter than death.

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly(潛水鐘與蝴蝶)

    On December 8,1995, the well-respected editor of the French fashion magazine Elle, Jean-Dominique Bauby, suffered a stroke and slipped into a coma. Awaking twenty days later, much to his surprise he was almost completely paralyzed, except his left eyelid.

    Nevertheless, his self-aware mental faculties were still intact. How he wished that he could have hug his family again when they visited him on Father’s Day while all he could do was use his left eye to see them more clearly and regret. During the days he lay on the bed in the hospital, lots of normal but extraordinary things came to his mind, as of his mind had been a butterfly which was trapped in his useless body like a diving bell deep in the water. All of these were attributed to the rare condition known as locked-in syndrome.

    Enduring the physical therapy and receiving the mental supports from his family and friends, Bauby still decided to write his memoirs by blinking letter by letter, though. It took Bauby 200,000 blinks to finish the book. In spite of the physical impotence, he struggled until the last minute of his life, which not only moved people to tears but inspired us to believe that everyone can make a stone a flower, as long as we stick to it and find strength in the ashes.

Rain Man (雨人)

When the self-centered, avaricious Charlie Babbitt is informed that his long-estranged father has died, he gets two surprises. First, he inherits his father’s prize roses and a 1949 Buick Roadmaster but not the three million dollars he is longing to get. Second, the three million dollars are inherited by his brother while he doesn’t even know the fact that he has a brother, Raymond Babbitt, an autistic-savant who is good at memorizing chores and add, subtract, multiply and divide without a second’s hesitation.

     Disappointed at not getting one cent of his father’s entire legacy, he takes Raymond hostage in order to obtain the money he deserves.

     During their seven days cross-country odyssey, Charlie is forced to tolerate Raymond’s various autistic idiosyncracie which he insists on adhering to rigid daily routines and rituals. Charlie is almost driven to crazy because of these inflexible schedules including eating pancakes with sticks, having the specific meals on specific days, sleeping on the bed which is near the window at eleven o’clock, not going outside on rainy days and so on. Even more, Raymond almost mutters all the time.

      At first, Charlie is mean to Raymond. However, by living with his autistic brother several days, the ice on his cool heart gradually melts. He learns to be more considerate, more patient and even has the desire to live with Raymond in the future for he has been his dearst brother since they were in their childhood. On the other hand, Raymond learns some skills to live in the real world and tries to walk out of the shadow he is in little by little. He dances with Charlie, plays cards, kissed Susanna, Charlie’s girlfriend and even drives his father’s car on the road. Charlie gives Raymond something he can’t get at Wallbrook, the psychological hospital and Raymond gives Charlie something he can’t get in his busy life. Both of them show their live to each other in their own way.

     There is the picture, the lively picture of the eighteen-year-old Raymond and the two-year-old Charlie. Rain Man and Charlie. Brothers. As a proverb goes, “Blood is thicker than water.” Although Raymond has to return to Wallbrook while Charlie lives in Los Angelus, they have connected to each other-by their sincere hearts. Sometimes, love does change something in our life, even in the most subtle way, it works.

The Truman Show (楚門的世界)

    The movie stirs something inside of me for the reality it reveals to the audience is too incredible to be true.

    First, I would like to talk about the founder of Seahaven Island, Christof, the man who comes up with the idea of Truman Show. So arrogant and selfish is he that he tells Truman, “I understand you more than yourself. I know what is the best to you.” Every moment of Truman’s life is continuously transmitted to the television screen of hungry fans around the world without Truman ever knowing. Christof controls every incident in the fake world which Truman lives in, from the death of Truman’s fake father and the fake marriage; moreover, he tries hard to confine Truman to the limited world he has created. There is no denying that our world is full of lies and betrayal. But to an independent individual, the most important thing and the best lifestyle to him are only known by himself. Nobody has the power to deprive others’ right of experiencing the whole life which they deserve, even though his point of departure is out of good will. Christof is selfish for what he really cares about is whether he can earn money from the show or not. He stops Truman from escaping as hard as he can, ignoring the efforts Truman makes.

    Second, Truman’s determination takes me by surprise. Though he is at the middle age and seems to have the so-called safe life, his passion for the dreams leads him to break the routine. “All of us accept the reality.” What a true but miserable sarcasm! Almost everyone once desires to realize his dream; however, the harsh challenges ahead deter them from pursuing his goals. The world is not all that interesting. The years after graduation harden us into those quite different from the strutting graduate who left campus headed for the new stage of life, ready to offer the world our talents. Hence, the dreams sour because of the difficulties we dare not get through. “You will never get the camera in my head”, Truman announces with confidence. It’s up to us whether to go forward regardless of the obstacles or give up and accept the reality.

    And at last, the attitudes which the Truman Show audience have make me feel angry but a little sad. In fact, all of us live the same life as Truman to some extent. We want to make the biggest change in the limited space. And by watching Truman Show, we may get a bit contentment. The audience hope that Truman can pursue his dream and even burst into tears when they see his success. Nevertheless, why should Truman live the fake life? Why should Truman take the risk of his life only to find the true life they live? I wonder if they feel guilty when they watch the Truman Show.